enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

the one in which the internet wins.

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Paul and I were given an Apple giftcard for Christmas and he generously gave it to me to put towards a new iPod. I had been using my circa 2005 iPod shuffle until I lost it at the gym. With the giftcard burning a hole in my pocket, I went to the local Apple store to find a replacement last week.

The store was packed with people fiddling around on iPhones and practicing their finger scrolling. No one was interested in helping the girl by the iPod counter. So I walked up to what I thought was the register hoping I could just ask for one and pay for it there.

The register was actually a "Genius Bar" and the "bartenders" were very occupied tutoring new iPhone users. I stood around for a few minutes until I noticed a computer screen that highlighted who was next in line. I had no idea how to get my name on that computer screen or why I should wait in a mythical line in order to PAY MONEY. Everyone in the store looked confused and/or determined to spend money but no transactions appeared to be happening. Maybe there needs to be tutoring on what to do after you have entered an Apple store.

In a bit of a tizzy, I drove home and signed on to the Apple store online. A-Ha! Pick the product! A-Ha! Put it in your cart! A-Ha! Free customization! A-Ha! Free shipping on shuffles! A-Ha! You want my money!

The very good news is that I now have exactly what I wanted AND it says, "enjoy". The bad news is that I think the future of brick and mortar stores is bleak.

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13 responses to “the one in which the internet wins.”

  1. mandy Avatar
    mandy

    I have this one too. Hugs, Mandy

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  2. Anilu Magloire Avatar
    Anilu Magloire

    I hear ya. As much a I love Apple, going to the Apple store is not on my list of fave things to do.
    Apple.com is the way to go 🙂

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  3. Nadia Avatar
    Nadia

    and if someone had finally asked if you wanted to pay for that they would have asked if you wanted the receipt e-mailed to you. no paper! I love the apple store, but it can be crowded and confusing on most days. congrats on the shuffle. I love mine for running! ciao!

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  4. Carly Avatar
    Carly

    I guess it can be confusing but the checkout desk is at the front of the store. The genius bar at the back is for people who need help with a product and make an appointment (which you can also do online). I just purchased a new MacBook last month and initially I went into the store to just check them out in person. I talked with someone for over an hour, which, was great… maybe it was just an off day for your store, there seem to be more employees than customers usually at mine.
    Oh and also, they have this new thing, where the person helping you can ring you up right there with a little hand held device… that kinda weirded me out a bit.
    I hope you give the store another chance, the people who work there really do know lots! (sorry for leaving you a book as a comment… and I’m delurking.) 🙂

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  5. kitchendoor Avatar
    kitchendoor

    The Apple store is always vaguely terrifying to me. But boy howdy, do I ever love my MacBook.
    Cheers!

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  6. Eleanor Avatar
    Eleanor

    the apple store “genius” bar people aren’t usually any more knowledgeable than the product description you can read online. However, I do enjoy that you can get your receipt emailed to you even if you buy in-store. But the Apple Stores, post-iPhone, have just become a bit of a hell to be in. And their sporadic line formations are confusing and uncomfortable, I agree, haha. It’s like “Is this a person that I can give my money to?” No, they’re talking about keyboards. “Do those people look ready to check out? I’ll wait behind them.”
    It’s just awkward and annoying.
    Congrats on your new iPod, though! A couple recommendations for content: “Hideaway” by The Weepies, “Everything in Transit” by Jack’s Mannequin and “Lenka” by Lenka. (I have no idea what kind of music you like, but those are 3 very solid albums.)
    oh and sorry for the novel-length comment, haha.

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  7. Marina H. Avatar
    Marina H.

    New iPods are the best! A sincere congrats! Plus, you got the one that has the tippy screen so you can rotate your iPod and the screen will change too. Neat!
    As a veteran customer service associate in retail…i HATE going into the Apple Store because it just makes me want to ring everyone up, haha. So I can sense your frustration. I hope you listen to your ipod all day and enjoy it!

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  8. julie Avatar
    julie

    bring back the video blogging and go back in time and re-start with this entry. i’d LOVE to see this on video. just your looks alone when NO ONE WAS THERE TO HELP YOU and the triumph over ordering it online. genius.
    i still have my first-gen ipod shuffle. i only “upgraded” to the newer shuffle because graham thought it wise (so wise!) to buy it for me.

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  9. tracy dyar Avatar
    tracy dyar

    For Apple purchases online is the way to go. But I still love to go in and gaze longingly at a cinema screen or other piece of fabulous technology! There are just too many people in there during peak shopping hours to actually make your purchase.

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  10. molly Avatar
    molly

    THAT is a SERIOUS problem. A problem seemingly acknowleged and agreed upon by what appears to be all previous comments.
    It doesn’t need to be esoteric or trendy; it needs to be SIMPLE and accessible. I’m incredibly embarrassed for Apple’s Director of Retail Marketing in what sounds like an egregiously misguided selling proposition.
    Stores have failed in better economies for lesser reasons.

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  11. melissa mann Avatar
    melissa mann

    wow. glad to hear you were able to find a way to get the new ipod.

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  12. kelli Avatar
    kelli

    at our local apple store, the clerks kinda roam around in their oh-so-cool t-shirts and their credit card machines. and, while I’ve always been helped quickly by the roaming clerks, i think it’s the roaming that leads to the confusion! where is the counter?? i always find myself blocked into a corner with a crush of customers, and the roaming clerk being practically pushed right into me. it just leads to claustrophobia. ahhh!!! just give me my ipod!!! 🙂

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  13. kl Avatar
    kl

    This post made me laugh! I had a similar experience last time I was trying to purchase a new Mac.
    Understand that I have been an Apple user since 1985 and never expected to go PC. Two years ago I went to the Apple Store to buy a new computer but I couldn’t get any attention. I thought it was because I was middle aged and no longer their target market. There was only one other customer at the time. On a whim I walked across the mall to the Dell store and talked to a sales guy who convinced me to change. I even spent $200 more than I planned because the PC could be used by my kids for gaming. My macs couldn’t do that. Sure a Mac would look a little more sleek, but I’ll worry about that if I manage to have a clean desk.
    Enjoy your new ipod!

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